Method and apparatus for mounting lock bodies



"Heb, 16, 1932. A. LEVINE 1,846,007

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MUUNTIG LOCK BODIES Filed sept. 19, 195o 2 shetssheet 1 Feb. 16, 1932. A. LEVINE 1,846,007

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MOUNTING LOCK BODIES Filed Sept. 19, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lHliilr A Patented Feb, 16, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ABRAHAM LEVINE, OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO PRESTO LOCK COR- PORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,

A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MOUNTING LOCK BODIES Application inea september 19, 1930. serial No. 482,969.

My present invention relates generally to articles of luggage, and has particular reference to a luggage lock, a method for associating the lock body with the article of luggage, and an apparatus for accomplishing this procedure.

rlhis application is a continuation in part of my copending application Serial N o. 360,040, filed May 3, 1929.

A luggage article of the type to which my invention has particular reference is the ordinary briefcase, usually made of leather or the like. t is customary for such an article to carry a loclr which has two parts, one of the a parts (hereinafter referred to as a loch body) being attached to one portion of the briefcase, the other part or hasp being attached to the complementary portion of the briefcase for cooperation with the lock body.

My present invention has particular refer ence to the lock body, to a novel manner of mounting the same upon a wall of a luggage article, and to an improved apparatus for achieving this result.

Obviously, my invention is not restricted to briefcases, but relates generally to all types of luggage and articles with which lock bodies are associated.

lt has been the practice heretofore to provide the lock body with rearwardly extending projections or prongs, the body being associated with a wall of the luggage article by first providing openings in the latter, then passing the prongs through these openings,

and finally clenching the prongs against the rear surface of the wall. It is a general object of my present invention to dispense with the necessity for this relatively expensive and time-consuming manual procedure, and to provide an improved method for associating the lock body with a wall of a luggage article in a simple and expeditious manner and by the use of an improved and novel type of apparatus. j

A feature of my invention lies in providing an apparatus which engages both the lock body and the luggage article in such a man ner that the two may be brought together in a single operation to accomplish the complete 50 association of the lock body with the wall of the luggage artic-le. Where the prongs are suitably constructed, it is not even necessary to preform any openings in the luggage arti cle lt is a particular feature of my invention to provide an apparatus which is capable of grasping the lock body in a firm and ellicient manner without necessitating any special construction of the lock body for this purpose. More particularly, my present apparatus includes a tool which engages the loch body at the front thereofin substantially the same manner asthe body will ultimately be engaged by the complementary hasp for which it is intended.

Thus, where the loch body is provided with an aperture through which the hasp is de* signed to pass, a .latch in the aperture serving to engage the hasp, my present apparatus provides a dummy or substitutehasp portion which cooperates with the lock body and engages the latter by entering such aperture and engaging' such latch.

Other features of my invention lie in the particular construction andarrangement of the several parts thereof, and especially of a die having a particular construction and nature to `permit the lool; body tool efliciently to cooperate therewith in carrying out the objects of my invention.

I achieve the foregoing objects, and such other objects as may hereinafter appear or be pointed out, in the manner illustratively eX- emplified in the accompanying drawings wherein- Figure l is a plan view of a die embodying the features of my present invention and forming part of the present apparatus;

FigurelA is a fragmentary perspective view of two portions of an ordinary briefcase showing, by way of example, a lock body and hasp associated therewith;

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the several parts of my apparatus during the employment thereof, a portion being shown in section substantially along the line 2--2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a crosssectional view through the tool of Figure 6 with a lock body of the haracter shown in Figure 1A carried there- Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view 0f a portion of Figure 2 showing the relationship of the parts during the completion of the operation;

Figure 5 is a rear fragmentary viewy of a wall of a luggage article after the lock body has been associated therewith in the manner illustrated in Figures 2 and 4;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a tool forming part of my present apparatus and designed to engage the loclr body of Figure 1A and cooperate with the die ofFigure 1;

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figurey 1 showing a modification;

Figure 8 is a front elevational view of Figure 7; l

Figure 9 is a side elevational view taken from the right of Figure 8; Y Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 1A showing a slightly different type of lock body and hasp associated with respective portions of a different type of luggage article;

Figure 11 is a view similar to Figure 10 showing the possible arrangement, at a different portion of the luggage article of Figure 10, of a similar lock body and hasp; and

Figure 12 is ay view of the face of a tool of the character of Figure 6, illustrating a modi- 'cation and adapted to be used in connection with loclr bodies of the type shown in Figures 10 and 11.

Referring for the moment to Figure 1A, I have illustratively shown a briefcase wall 15 carrying a lock body 16. This body has been shown provided with three substantially rectangular apertures 17 on the-I front face thereof. A latch 19 is receptively positioned behind each aperture 17 and normally held in the position of Figure 1A by mea-ns of a spring presently to be described. When the adjustable control handle 18 is pressed downwardly against the action of the spring, the

. .latches 19 are withdrawn so as to release any hasp or the like that may be held by any one of the latches.

I have shown the other portion of the briefcase 20 provided with a hasp 21 in the form Yof a loop which is adapted to enter any selected one of the apertures 17 for automatic engagement, upon entry, with the corresponding latch 19. y

In Figure 3 it will be noted that the front wall 22 of the lock body is `provided with a rearwardly extending marginal flange 23, the latches 19 being mounted within the confines of the iange 23 and concealed by a cover plate which is spaced from, and substantially parallel to, the front wall 22. The lock body is provided with a set of'rearwardly extending prongs 24 and 25. In the form shown, these prongs are pointed.

The latches 19-are preferably` formed as part of a single plate or-bolt, and the spring previously referred to is shown in the form of a small coil spring 29 in Figure 3.

In Figure 6 I have shown a tool constructed in accordance with my present invention. A block 30 has a front face 31 in which I pro- Y vide a shallow recess 32 so contoured and an engagement with one of the latches 19 may be automaticallyeffected in substantially the same manner as the hasp 21 would engage therewith. The manner in which this engagement is accomplished is shown most clearly in Figure 3, the dummyhasp portion 34 engaging the third latch 19 in a sort of hooked relationship.

Then the lock body is to be `grasped by the tool, it is simply inserted into the recess 32,

and the snug iit causes the projection 34 to enter the third aperture 17 a slight pressure Y thereupon serving to snap theloclr body into engaged relationship with the portion 34. 'The tool or block 3() may then be manipulated in any desired manner for carrying out the further procedural steps. It is to be noted that this manner of grasping the lock body at the front thereof causesthe prongs 24 and 25 to project outwardly from the face 31, as shown most clearly in Figure 3.

The tool of Figure 6 is adapted to cooperate with a die 35 shown most clearly in Figures 1 and 2. The die 35 presents a flat surface adapted to receive the wall of the luggage article thereon. It is provided with bores 36 and 37 suitably spaced and arranged so as to accommodate the prongs 24 and 25.

The block 30 and the die 35 are suitably mounted one above the other so that the block 30 may be forcibly brought down upon the die. Any type of press or similar apparatus may be employed for this purpose.

In carrying out my invention, the wall of 25 are caused to pass downwardly through the wall 15 into the bores 36 and 37. If the prongs are suitably constructed and pointed, my present invention dispenses with the necessity for preforming any openings in the wall 15 through which the prongs may'pass. Even 'a tough material such as the leather usually employed in briefcases may be punctured by the prongs in carrying out my invention without providing any preformed Y openings in the leather. i

`My invention provides for clenching the from by virtue of a series of relatively heavy compression springs 39. A stud 40 entends downwardly from the die 35 and is provided with a head 41 engaging with the upper end of a bore 42 in the base member 3S to limit the normal amount of separation of the die 35 and the base member 38.

A set of anvils 43 and 44 are mounted in the base member 38 and extend upwardly into the bores 36 and 37. The springs 39 are of such strength that they will not yield until after the prongs of the lock body have passed through the wall 15 and have entered the portions 36 and 37. Thereafter, continued pressure forces the die 35 toward the base member 38 against the action of the springs 3Q, and this causes the anvils 43 and 44 to move relatively upwardly or outwardly in the bores 36 and 37, thereby encountering the prongs and engaging the latter to forcibly bend them in the contemplated manner.

Referring for the moment to Figure 5, l will point out that a reinforcement plate or the like 45 is preferably positioned behind the lock body on the inner surface of the wall with which the lock body is associated. This plate 45 is preferably provided with suitably spaced preformed apertures 46 through which the prongs may pass.

lt will be noted that I have illustrated certain prongs bent in `one` direction, and others in an opposite direction. l have shown the two outer prongs 24 bent outwardly and 'the medial prongs Q4 bent inwardly, and l have shown the prongs 25 bent in a symmetrical manner. This I accomplish by positioning the portions 36 and 37 as shown most clearly in Figure 1. It is to be noted that the bores 37 adapted to receive the medial. prongs E24 and 25, respectively, are closer together than the bores 36. This causes `the medial prongs 24 and 25 to pass downwardly into the bores 37 along the outer walls of the latter; whereas the outer prongs 24 and 25 enter the respective bores 36 and pass downwardly along the inner walls of the latter.

It is also to be noted that the anvils 43, arranged in the bores 37, have their upper surfaces curved so that the prongs will be deflected outwardly; whereas the plungers 44, arranged within the bores 37, have their upper surfaces so contoured that the prongs will be deflected inwardly. Thus, in Figure 2, I have shown one of the anvils 43 with a suitably curved upper surface 47 so that the prong passing downwardly along the inner wall of the corresponding bore 36 will be deleeted toward the left in this figure. Similarly, I have shown the anvil 44 of Figure 2- with its upper surface 48 so curved that the prong passing downwardly along the outer Wall of the corresponding bore 37 will be deflected inwardly.

it will now be obvious that the employment of my apparatus involves nothing more than the steps of snapping the lock body into the recess 32, la ing the plate 45 and the wall 15 over the c ie 35, and bringing the block or tool 3() downwardly. The prongs pass downwardly through the wall l5, through the apertures 46, and into the bores 36 and 37. Further pressure causes the anvils 43 and 44 to rise with respect to the bores, thereby causing the prongs to be bent, as shown most clearly in Figure 4. Thereafter, the block 30 is lifted, and a slight pull upon the wall 15 (to which the lock body is now permanently attached) will release the lock body from the block 30.

In Figures 7, 8, and 9, I have illustrated a modified type of die which may be cmployed in place of the die 35 and its associated parts. A die plate is provided with the recesses or bores 71 into which the prongs are to pass. Behind the die 70 is a base member 72 provided with the upwardly projecting anvils 73 adapted to enter the respective bores 71. Projecting downwardly from the lower portion of the base member 7 2 is a rod 74 upon which a collar 75 is mounted. Above the collar 75 is a compression spring 76 which constantly urges a supporting plate 77 upwardly to-ward the under-surface of theA base member 72. The plate 77 is slidable upon the rod 74 against the action of the spring 76, and it carries a pair of upwardly extending supporting rods 7 3 which extend upwardly through suitably prepared bores in the base member 72.

The spring 76 normally holds the rods 76 in the position shown in Figures 8 and 9, and it is to be noted that the die plate 70 rests upon these rods 78. When the die plate 70 is pressed downwardly, as when the device is used, the spring 76 yields after the prongsI have entered the recesses 71, yand permits the die 70 to be moved toward the base member 7 This causes the anvils 73 to move relatively upwardly in their respective recesses or bores and serves to clench the prongs in a predetermined manner.

In the modification of Figures 7-9, it is to be noted that the die member' 7 O is not permanently attached to the base member but is freely removable.` Also, the die 70 preferably has the approximate contour and face of the reinforcement plate 45, so that when the latter is applied to the die 7() it can be properly `positioned in a speedy manner by simply aligning its edges with the edges ofthe die 7 O.

Furthermore in Figures 7-9, I have shown all the upper surfaces of the anvils 73 contoured so as to bend or deflectall the prongs inwardly, but, Obviously, the bores may be arranged in the staggered manner of Figure n 'tails herein described and illustrated for l, if desired, and the upper surfaces of the `lanvils may be suitably contoured to bend the prongs in any desired manner.

In Figure l2, I have shown a tool corresponding to that of Figure 6 and designed for employment with the lock bodies of Figures l0 and ll. `In the latter figures, it is to be noted that the bodies 49 and 50 are identical, except that they are oppositely positioned upon the wallV 51. convenient for an operator to apply the wall F51 to the die from vdierent positions, the

opposite arrangement of the lock bodies is taken care of by the block 52 whichhas a duplex recess 53 therein. Thisrecess'is provided with two depressions 54 and 55 and a medial dummy hasp portion or projection 56. When the body 49 is to be applied to the wall 5l, it is iitted into the recess at one end thereof, the grip member 57 fitting into the depression 55 and thek projection 56 en- 'gaging within the slot or aperture 58. When the other lock body is to be associated with the wall 51, it is fitted into the recess 53 so that the hand grip 59 fits into the depression 54, the projection 56 in this case engaging `with the aperture 60. In each case, the projection 56 engages with the corresponding aperture 58 oi 60 in substantially the same manner as the hasps 61 and 62 engage therewith respectively.

` Whatever the arrangement of prongs may be on the loch bodies, it will be understood that the die is correspondingly constructed and shaped soy that the prongs will enter respective bores or recesses in the die.

It will thus beseen that I have provided an apparatus of eXtreme simplicity by means of which lock bodies of varied characters may be permanently attached with selected walls -of luggage articles in an efficient and rapid manner, facilitating inexpensive quantity production. From one aspect, my invention relates to a novel means for engaging and manipulating the lock bodies, particularly in a means for engaging them at the front thereof in substantially the same manner as they would be engaged by the liasps for which they are designed; and, from this aspect, I do not mean to limit myself to the particular type -of dummy hasp portion shown at 34 and 56, the essential feature being that this hasp portion is constructedisimilarly to the hasp for which the lock body is designed.

From another aspect, my invention relates to an improved apparatus and method for attaching a lock body to a wall of a luggage article; and, from this angle, I do not mean to limit myself to the particular dies herein illustrated by way of example, nor to any` Since it is in- Yparticular',.fcontour off recesses or arrangement of bores or the like. i

It will beobvious that changes in the dethe purpose ofvexplaining'the nature of my invention maybe made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit .and

scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims. that these details be interpreted as illustrative, and not in a limiting` sense. v

It is therefore intended Having Vthus described .my invention and-` illustrated its use, what I claim as new and Y Vdesire to secure by Letters .Patent is- 1. In an apparatus for associating with a luggage article an apertured lock body provided with a latch in said aperture for. co-

operatively engaging with a complementary hasp, a tool for grasping said lock body comprising a recessed block, said recess being luggage article a lock body provided with latch means for cooperatively engaging with -a complementary hasp, a tool for grasping said loch body comprising a recessed block, said recess being adapted to accommodate said lock body face down, and means in said recess for engaging said latch means'in substantially the same manner as the hasp engages therewith.

In anapparatus for associating with a luggage article a lock body provided with f latch means for cooperatively engaging with a complementary hasp, atool for grasping i said lock body comprising a recessed block, said recess being adapted to accommodate said lock body face down therein, and means in said recess for engaging said latch means in substantially the saine manner as thehasp engages therewith ;v said last-named means comprising a dummy hasp portion carried by said bloc 4. In an apparatus for associating with a the same manner as the hasp engages therewith.

6. In' an apparatus for associating with a luggage article an apertured lock body pro-k siii ica'

vided with a latch in said aperture for cooperatively engaging with a complementary hasp, a tool for grasping said lock body comprising a recessed block, said recess being adapted to accommodate the lock body with the aperture .tace down therein, and a dummy hasp portion carried by said bloclr in said recess for entering said aperture and engaging with said latch; said dummy hasp portion comprising a projection adapted to enter said aperture and an enlarged head adapted to engage with said latch.

T. In an apparatus for associating` with a wall oi' a luggage article a loch body provided. cn its 'iront face with haspengaging means and on its rear face with a set ot pointed attachl'nent prongs, a tool jfor grasping said loclr body so as to force said prongs through said wall, said tool being provided with n'ieans tor engaging with the hasp-engaging means on said front face.

il. In an apparatus for associa-ting with a wall of a. luggage article a lock body pro vided on its iront iiace with hasp-engaging means and on its rear face with a set of pointed attachment prongs, a tool for grasping said .loch body so as to torce said prongs through said wall, said tool comprising a block having a recess adapted to accommodate said lock body tace down therein, whereby said prongs project outwardly from said block, and means in said recess for engaging with said hesje-engaging means.

9. In an apparatus tor associating with a wall of a luggage article a loclr body provided on its iront face with hasp-engaging means and on its rear :tace with a set of pointed attachment prongs, a tool for grasping said loch body so as to force said prongs through said wall, said tool comprising a block having a shallow recess adapted to snugly acconnnodate said locl body therein with the front tace ot the lock body overlying the bottom of said recess, whereby said prongs project outwardly from said block, and ay dummy hasp portion mounted on said recess bottom for engaging the hasp-engaging means on said front face.

10. An apparatus for associating with a wall of a luggage article a loclr body provided with hasp-engaging means and with rearwardly jjn'ojccting attachment prongs, comprising a die with spaced bores therein and adapted to receive said wall thereon, and a tool it'or grasping said loclr body, said tool being provided with means for engaginoq said baspenaaging means, whereby said tool may be pressed against said die to force the prongs through said wall into said bores.

1l. An .apparatus 'tor associating with a wall oi? a luggage article a` loclr body provided on its iront tace with a haspeengaging latch and on its rear face with a set of pointed and reinforced attachment prongs; said apparatus comprising a tool adapted to grasp said lock body, said tool comprising a recessed block adapted to accommodate said lock body face down therein and provided with a dummy hasp portion for engaging said latch, a die having spaced bores and adapted to receive said Wall thereon, where by the tool may be pressed against said die to force said prongs through said wall into said bores, and anvils mounted for relative movement in said bores and adapted to abut said prongs tor detlecting the latter laterally against the rear surface of said wall to grip the latter.

12. In a method of associating with a luggage article a lock body provided with means for cooperatively engaging with a complementary hasp, the herein described step of grasping said lock body by an engagement with said hasp-engaging means.

13. The method of associating with a wall of a luggage article a lock body provided with hasp-engaging means, which consists in providing rearwardly projecting pointed prongs on said body, grasping the latter at the lront thereof by an engagement with said beep-engaging means, and forcibly puncturing said prongs through said wall.

14. In an apparatus for associating with a wall of a luggage article a lock body provided on its iront face with hasp-engaging means and on its rear tace with a set of pointed attachment prongs, a tool for grasping said lock body so as to force said prongs through said wall, said tool comprising a block having in its lower face a shallow recess having continuous peripheral wall adapted to snugly accommodate said lock body therein with the front face of the lock body overlying the bottom oi said recess, whereby said prongs project outwardly from said block, and means in said recess adapted to engage said lock body for holding said lock body within said recess.

15. In an apparatus for associating with a wall of a luggage article a` lock body provided on its front race with hasp-engaging means and on its rear face with a set of pointed attachment prongs, a tool for grasping said lock body so as to force said prongs through said wall, said tool comprising a block having in its lower iace means to snugly receive and hold said lock body with the front face of the lock body adjacent said lower face' whereby said prongs project outwardly from said block, and means associated with said lower face and adapted to engage said lock body for holding said lock body thereagainst.

In witness whereof I have signed this specification this 18th day of September, 1930.

ABRAHAM LEVINE. 

